Shari'ah Law To Be Applied In Somaliland - President Rayale

Hargeysa, Somaliland, October 24, 2006 – [Presenter] President Dahir Rayale Kahin of Somaliland has, for the first time, said Islamic shari'ah law would be applied in Somaliland.

President Rayale’s remarks come at a time when Somaliland Muslim scholars have called on the president to make his stand clear regarding shari'ah. Muhammad Abdulle Elmi from Hargeysa has more on this.

[Elmi] Somaliland President HE Dahir Rayale Kahin has disclosed that shari'ah law will be applied in Somaliland. The president was speaking at Hargeysa Jamia Mosque yesterday (21/10/06) where he joined thousands of people in Id prayers.

[Rayale] In the name of God, most gracious, most merciful. I would like to disclose [rest of passage indistinct].

[Presenter] President Rayale Kahin's statement comes at a time when Somaliland Muslim scholars have appealed several times to [the president] that shari'ah be applied in Somaliland, as clearly stipulated in the constitution.

The constitution clearly spells out that the religion of Somaliland nation is Islam, and that shari'ah should be the basis for all the legislative sources.

Meanwhile, clerics from Buroa town [in southern Somaliland] on Sunday [22 October] held a news conference and urged the Somaliland president to make clear his stand regarding remarks attributed to Somaliland foreign minister, whom they said had offended the honor and feelings of the [Somaliland] people.

Up to now there has been no response from the government regarding the appeal made by the clerics from Buroa. However, political analysts say President Rayale’s speech on Monday could be an indirect response to the clarifications sought by the scholars from Buroa.

Source: Radio HornAfrik, Mogadishu, in Somali 1600 gmt 24 Oct 06

BBC Monitoring